EP2541118B1 - Connector - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP2541118B1
EP2541118B1 EP11747198.7A EP11747198A EP2541118B1 EP 2541118 B1 EP2541118 B1 EP 2541118B1 EP 11747198 A EP11747198 A EP 11747198A EP 2541118 B1 EP2541118 B1 EP 2541118B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
locking
pipe
piece
lock member
elastic piece
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP11747198.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2541118A1 (en
EP2541118A4 (en
Inventor
Tsuyoshi Okazaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nifco Inc
Original Assignee
Nifco Inc
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Publication date
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Publication of EP2541118A1 publication Critical patent/EP2541118A1/en
Publication of EP2541118A4 publication Critical patent/EP2541118A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2541118B1 publication Critical patent/EP2541118B1/en
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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L21/00Joints with sleeve or socket
    • F16L21/08Joints with sleeve or socket with additional locking means
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/08Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
    • F16L37/084Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking
    • F16L37/088Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of a split elastic ring
    • F16L37/0885Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of a split elastic ring with access to the split elastic ring from a radial or tangential opening in the coupling
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/08Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
    • F16L37/12Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L2201/00Special arrangements for pipe couplings
    • F16L2201/10Indicators for correct coupling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a connector for connecting a pipe.
  • patent document 1 discloses a connector comprising a connector body into which a pipe can be inserted, and a retainer that can be installed on the connector body.
  • the retainer is positioned in a provisionally fastened position where the pipe can be inserted into the connector, and the positioning of the connector body is released by the insertion of the pipe, at which time, the retainer moves to a position for preventing the pipe from coming off, and prevents the pipe from coming off.
  • a spring member (urging member) is provided between the connector body and the retainer, and the spring member moves the retainer having been released in positioning to the position for preventing the pipe from coming off, whereby it can be confirmed whether the pipe is connected in a properly connected position of the connector body.
  • Patent document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-105241
  • Patent document 2 US2006267341 A1 disclosing a quick connector for coupling a tube to a pipe which has retainer that is automatically moved by a moving mechanism to an engaging position so as to engage with engaging projection in locking relation.
  • the present invention provides a connector with which the connected position of a pipe can be confirmed and sagging of an urging member can be prevented.
  • a pipe can be connected to the connector by just inserting the pipe into the connector, and the connected state of the pipe can be confirmed. Also, sagging of the urging member can be prevented, and the operability is good because there is no need for the operator to manually move the confirmation member.
  • the connector 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is used for fastening of coolant piping inside an engine compartment of a vehicle, and is configured so that a pipe 12 made of metal is connected and a tube 13 made of resin is installed.
  • the configuration of the connector 10 is first described. For convenience of description, the description is given using the UP arrow illustrated in FIG. 1 to indicate the upward direction of the connector 10.
  • the connector 10 comprises a roughly cylindrical housing (connector body) 14, and a roughly inverted-U-shaped lock member (confirmation member) 16 installed on an outer perimeter of the housing 14.
  • a connection part 18 on which the lock member 16 is installed to be movable and to which the pipe 12 is connected is provided on one end side of the housing 14, and an insertion part 20 in which the tube 13 is inserted is provided on the other end side of the housing 14.
  • a taper part 22 is formed on a leading end side of the insertion part 20 (other end part of the housing 14), and a leading end part of the taper part 22 is made smaller in diameter than the tube 13 so that the tube 13 is easy to insert. Also, an annular projecting part 23 is provided on a rear end part of the taper part 22. The annular projecting part 23 is made larger in diameter than the inner diameter dimension of the tube 13, and the tube 13 is pressed in when the tube 13 is inserted into the insertion part 20.
  • a medium diameter part 24 having a larger diameter than the outer diameter dimension of the insertion part 20 is provided between the insertion part 20 and the connection part 18, and a movement of the tube 13 is restricted by contacting of a leading end face of the tube 13 to an end face of the medium diameter part 24. In this state, the tube 13 is securely fastened to the insertion part 20 by a custom clamp, or the like, not illustrated.
  • connection part 18 is roughly cylindrical, and the external shape on the other end side is roughly square.
  • a large diameter part 26 having a larger diameter than the medium diameter part 24 provided on the insertion part 20 is provided on one end side of the connection part 118, and an annular recessed part (not illustrated) is placed in recessed form on an inner perimeter surface of the large diameter part 26.
  • O-rings 30 and 32 are fitted into the annular recessed part, and fill and seal a gap between the inner perimeter surface of the large diameter part 26 and an outer perimeter surface of the pipe 12 when the pipe 12 is connected to the connection part 18.
  • annular spacer being rectangular in section may be placed between the O-ring 30 and O-ring 32, and the O-ring 30 and O-ring 32 may be compressed so that the sealing strength with the outer perimeter surface of the pipe 12 is increased.
  • a lock member 36 and an installation part 38 are provided along the axial direction of the housing 14 on the other end side of the connection part 18, and the lock member 36 is placed on the side of the large diameter part 26.
  • the lock member 16 to be described is made capable of being installed on the installation part 3, and the installed lock member 16 is locked in a prescribed position (connected position to be described) by the lock part 36.
  • parallelepiped-form projecting parts (coupling-accepting parts) 40 and 42 are placed to project respectively on an upper part and a lower part of the side wall 36A, and a gap 44 is provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 (to be described later).
  • annular recessed part (not illustrated) is placed in recessed form on an inner perimeter surface of the lock part 36, and an annular bush 48 is made capable of being fitted in the annular recessed part in a state projecting from the inner perimeter surface of the lock part 36.
  • the inner diameter dimension of the bush 48 is made roughly identical to the outer diameter dimension of the pipe 12.
  • the bush 48 is made, for example, with polyacetal, nylon, or the like.
  • a circular opening part 50 is formed along the axial direction of the housing 14 on the installation part 38 (one end part of the housing 14), the opening part 50 is made larger in diameter than the inner diameter dimension of the bush 48, and is made as a size such that an annular flange part 12A formed on the outer perimeter surface of the pipe 12 can be inserted.
  • the installation part 38 has a plurality of through-holes 54, 56, and 58 formed on an angular part, leaving bridging parts 52 in between.
  • a through-hole 56 is provided on an upper part of the installation part 38 and a through-hole 58 is provided on a lower part, and reinforcing ribs 60 and 62 bisecting the through-holes 56 and 58 are provided respectively in the center parts in the long directions of the through-holes 56 and 58.
  • the rigidity of the installation part 38 (connection part 18) is reinforced by the reinforcing ribs 60 and 62.
  • the lock member 16 is made capable of being installed from above the installation part 38.
  • a pair of stoppers 64 and 66 hangs down from an inner surface of a base part 16A positioned in the center of the lock member 16, corresponding to through-holes 56A and 56B formed on the installation part 38.
  • a cutout part 68 allowing the reinforcing rib 60 provided on the upper part of the installation part 38 to be inserted through is formed between the stopper 64 and the stopper 66.
  • the cutout part 68 passes through to the reinforcing rib 60, and the stoppers 64 and 66 are inserted respectively in the through-holes 56A and 56B.
  • the lock member 16 is made easy to elastically deform toward a direction (radial direction) of moving both end parts apart.
  • a base part 16A of the lock member 16 is made as an arc surface 72 (see FIG. 6B ) having roughly the same curvature as an arc surface 70 formed on an upper wall 36B of the lock part 36, and the base part 16A of the lock member 16 is made capable of surface contacting with the upper wall 36B of the lock part 36 in a locked position of the lock member 16 to be described later, as illustrated in FIG. 9B .
  • an operating recessed part 74 is placed in recessed form in the center part of the base part 16A of the lock member 16 in a position facing opposite the upper wall 36B of the connection part 18 (upper wall 36B of the lock part 36), the upper wall 36B of the connection part 18 is exposed in the connected position of the lock member 16, and is made such that a slotted screwdriver or custom jig can be inserted.
  • leading end parts of the stoppers 64 and 66 are made as arcs having roughly the same radius of curvature as the outer diameter dimension of the pipe 12, and is made capable of contacting with the outer perimeter surface of the pipe 12.
  • a gap is provided in the axial direction of the housing 14 between the stoppers 64 and 66 and the bush 48, and the flange part 12A is made capable of being placed inside the gap.
  • the radius of curvature of the inner diameter dimension of the bush 48 and of the leading ends of the stoppers 64 and 66 are made roughly the same as the outer diameter dimension of the pipe 12, and therefore are made smaller in diameter than the outer diameter dimension of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12. Therefore, the state in which the flange part 12A is placed inside the gap, becomes a state in which the flange part 12A is covered by the stoppers 64 and 66 (the stoppers 64 and 66 and the flange part 12A overlap) when the pipe 12 is viewed toward the direction of insertion of the pipe 12 as illustrated in FIG. 10B . In other words, a movement in the axial direction of the pipe 12 is restricted by the bush 48 and the stoppers 64 and 66.
  • the angular parts of the end faces of the lock part 36 and the installation part 38 of the connection part 18 extend from the outer faces of the upper wall 36B and the bridging parts 52 of the lock part 36, and as illustrated in FIG. 10 , in the state in which the lock member 16 is installed on the installation part 38, the angular parts are made capable of contacting with the end faces in the width direction of the lock member 16, so that the movement of the lock member 16 along the axial direction of the housing 14 is restricted and the lock member 16 does not rattle.
  • elastic pieces (urging members) 80 and locking pieces (leg pieces) 78 hang down respectively from both ends in the long direction of the base part 16A of the lock member 16.
  • the locking pieces 78 are provided corresponding to the lock part 36
  • the elastic pieces 80 are provided corresponding to the installation part 38.
  • Slits 82 are provided between the elastic pieces 80 and the locking pieces 78, and the locking pieces 78 and the elastic pieces 80 are respectively made capable of being elastically deformed.
  • Both end sides of the elastic pieces 80 are bent toward the direction of moving closer to each other, run through the through-holes 54 formed on the side wall of the installation piece 38, and extend further toward the inner diameter side from the bush 48 (see FIG. 6B ).
  • Projecting parts not illustrated are provided in the center parts in the long directions of the elastic pieces 80, and contact with the bridging parts 52 in the state in which the elastic pieces 80 run through the through-holes 54 and the lock member 16 is installed on the installation part 38 to restrict the movement toward the upward direction of the lock member 16.
  • contact parts 84 are provided on the leading end parts of the elastic pieces 80, the contact parts bending toward the direction of moving closer to each other along a roughly horizontal direction.
  • the end faces on the side of the opening part 50 are made to taper for guiding the pipe 12 toward the depth of the connection part 18, spanning from the contact parts 84 to the center parts in the directions of extension of the elastic pieces 80.
  • the positions of the contact parts 84 are set so as to contact at positions having crossed the axis of the pipe 12.
  • a locking part (coupling part) 86 is provided on the leading end part of the locking piece 78 on the side opposite the elastic piece 80, extending along the horizontal direction and forming the locking piece 78 into an L-shape.
  • the locking part 86 is made capable of being inserted into the gap 44 provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 provided on the lock part 36 of the connection part 18.
  • a movement in the downward direction of the lock member 16 is restricted in the state in which the locking part 86 is placed inside the gap 44 and contacts with the upper side face of the projecting part 42 (so-called “standby state”).
  • a gap is provided between the locking part 86 and the lower side face of the projecting part 40, but as previously described, the projecting part not illustrated provided on the elastic piece 80 contacts with the bridging part 52 in the state in which the lock member 16 is installed on the installation part 38, and a movement toward the upward direction of the lock member 16 is restricted.
  • a gap is provided on the end part side of the locking piece 78 with the locking part 86 along the direction of extension of the locking piece 78, and a pressing piece (pressing part) 90 extending along a horizontal direction is provided on the side opposite the locking part 86.
  • the pressing part 90 is placed on the outside of the elastic piece 80 in a state in which a gap is provided with the elastic piece 80, and as illustrated in FIG. 7B , the elastic piece 80 contacts with the pressing piece 90 by being pushed to spread outward.
  • the position of the contact part 84 provided on the leading end part of the elastic piece 80 is set so as to contact at a position having crossed the axis of the inserted pipe 12. Therefore, when the locked state in the standby state of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 is unlocked, the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 return releasing the urging force, and as illustrated in FIG. 9B , the contact part 84 of the elastic piece 80 turns inward along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12, and moves the lock member 16 to the connected position.
  • the locking part 86 rides over the upper face of the projecting part 42, and contacts with (strikes) the lower side face of the projecting part 42, and a movement in the upward direction of the lock member 16 is restricted. Also, in this state, the urging force in the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 is released. Also, roughly simultaneously with the upward movement of the locking part 86 being restricted, the base part 16A of the lock member 16 contacts with the upper wall 36B of the lock part 36, and the downward movement of the lock member 16 is restricted. In other words, in this state, the movements in the upward and downward directions of the lock member 16 come to be restricted (so-called "connected state").
  • the locking part 86 contacts with the upper side face of the projecting part 40 in the standby state of the lock member 16, and contacts with the lower side face of the projecting part 42 in the connected state of the lock member 16, but the invention is not limited to this, because it is acceptable as long as the movement of the lock member 16 is restricted in the standby state and the connected state of the lock member 16.
  • a recessed part to which the locking part 86 is capable of coupling or locking may be provided in the recessed form instead of the projecting parts 40 and 42.
  • the locking part 86 provided on the leading end part of the locking piece 78 of the lock member 16 is placed in the gap 44 provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 of the lock part 36 and contacts with the upper side wall of the projecting part 42, and the movement in the downward direction of the lock member 16 is restricted, and the projecting part not illustrated provided on the elastic piece 80 contacts with the bridging part 52, and the movement in the upward direction of the lock member 16 is restricted.
  • the movements in the upward and downward directions of the lock member 16 are restricted.
  • the contact part 84 is set so as to contact at a position having crossed the axis of the inserted pipe 12, and urging force is accumulated in the locking piece 78 and the elastic piece 80. Therefore, when the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 is unlocked, the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 return while releasing the urging force.
  • the contact part 84 of the elastic piece 80 turns inward along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12, and moves the lock member 16 downward.
  • the locking part 86 rides over the upper face of the projecting part 42, and contacts with the lower side face of the projecting part 42, an upward movement of the lock member 16 is restricted, and the pipe 12 is connected to the connector 10 at the prescribed position (connected position).
  • the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 provided on the lock member 16 moves between the standby position, in which the locking part 86 is placed inside the gap 44 provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 provided on the lock part 36 of the connection part 18 and contacts with the upper side face of the projecting part 42, and the connected position, in which the locking part 86 contacts with the lower side face of the projecting part 42, and when the pipe 12 is inserted up to the prescribed position in the standby state of the lock member 16, the lock member 16 moves from the standby position to the connected position and is locked.
  • the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 are pushed to spread outward when being contacted by the flange part 12A of the pipe 12 and urging force is accumulated, but when the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 is unlocked, the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 return along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12 and release the urging force.
  • Return here includes the case in which all of the urging force in the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 is released and the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 return to the natural state, as well as the case in which some urging force remains in the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78.
  • the elastic piece 80 extends into the opening part 50 of the connector 10, and is pushed to spread outward when being contacted by the flange part 12A of the pipe 12, but at this time, the elastic piece unlocks the locked of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 in the standby position of the lock member 16.
  • the elastic piece 80 returns, the contact part 84 of the elastic piece 80 turns inward following the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 80, and moves the lock member 16 to the connected position.
  • the operation of connection of the pipe 12 is simple because the connector is a so-called "one-touch type," in which the pipe 12 is connected to the connector 10 by just inserting the pipe 12 into the opening part 50 of the connector 10, and the connector is convenient with good operability because there is no need for the operator to manually move the lock member 16.
  • the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 are integrally provided on the lock member 16 and the slit 82 is provided between the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78, whereby the locking piece 78 and the elastic piece 80 are made capable of being elastically deformed.
  • the locking piece 78 and the elastic piece 80 are integrally molded.
  • the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 rides over the projecting part 40, and the locked state of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 is unlocked. Therefore, the state in which the lock member 16 is raised upward by the slotted screwdriver or custom jig is maintained. Also, in the state in which the lock member 16 is raised upward, the stoppers 64 and 66 have moved to a position that does not interfere with the flange part 12A, and therefore the movement in the direction of removal of the pipe 12 becomes possible.
  • the pressing piece 90 which extends roughly horizontally toward one end side of the housing 14, and the locking part 86, which extends roughly horizontally toward the other end side of the housing 14, were provided on the locking piece 78 provided on the lock member 16, but any configuration is acceptable as long as the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 86 is unlocked, while being pushed to spread outward by the elastic piece 80.
  • two elastic pieces 80 and locking pieces 78 are not absolutely necessary, and the effect by the present embodiment can be obtained if there is at least one elastic piece 80 and locking piece 78. Also, the shape of the locking piece 78 is limited to the above shape in particular.
  • the locking piece 78 illustrated in FIG. 1 is enlarged in width as is a locking piece 92 illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B (FIG. 11A is a perspective view of FIG. 11B from the underside).
  • a parallelepiped-form locking part 94 is provided on the underside of the locking piece 92 instead of the locking part 86 extending from the locking piece 78.
  • the locking part 94 of the locking piece 92 is placed inside the gap 44 provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 provided on the lock part 36 of the connection part 18 and the lock member 16 becomes in the standby state, and as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14C , the locking part 94 contacts with the lower side face of the projecting part 42 and the lock member 16 becomes in the connected state.
  • the insertion part 20 illustrated in FIG. 14A is omitted.
  • the pressing piece 90 illustrated in FIG. 14A is connected with a leading end part of the locking piece 92, and a roughly triangular shape is formed and reinforced.
  • the locking piece 92 is enlarged in width and the pressing piece 90 is connected with the leading end part of the locking piece 92, whereby reinforcement of the locking piece 92, the locking part 94, and the pressing piece 90 can be improved.
  • the insertion part 20 and the connection part 18 are provided coaxially on the housing 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 , but the invention is not limited to this, because it is acceptable as long as the pipe 12 and the tube 13 can be connected by way of the housing 14.
  • an elbow part 25 is connected between the insertion part 20 and the connection part 18, and the insertion part 20 and the connection part 18 are made to intersect orthogonally by way of the elbow part 25.
  • the shapes of the housings 14 and 15 are diversified, whereby the connectors 10 and 11 can be used separately with consideration to the positional relationship of the pipe 12 and the tube 13.
  • the position of the contact part 84 is set so as to be positioned further downward from the axis of the inserted pipe 12.
  • the elastic piece 80 and the locking piece 78 move the lock member 16 downward while releasing the urging force therein, and the pipe 12 is connected.
  • the invention is not limited to this, because it is acceptable as long as it is a so-called "one-touch type.”
  • a connection part 102 of a housing 100 has a roughly square shape, an upper part of the connection part 102 is open, and a lock member 104 is made capable of being inserted.
  • the same symbols are assigned to members having roughly the same operations and effects as in the first mode of working, and the descriptions are omitted.
  • a frame body 106 hangs down in conformity with the shape of the connection part 102 from one end part (side opposite the locking piece 92) in the width direction of the center part of the lock member 104, and is made capable of being inserted into the connection part 102.
  • a stopper 107 hangs down from an upper end face of the frame body 106, and in the connected position of the lock member 104, as illustrated in FIG. 17B , the stopper 107 and the flange part 12A overlap, and a movement in the axial direction of the pipe 12 together with the bush 48 is restricted.
  • a spring piece (urging member) 108 extending diagonally upward from the center of a lower end part of the frame body 106 toward the side of the other end part in the width direction of the center part of the lock member 104.
  • the locking part 94 provided on the locking piece 92 is placed inside the gap 44 provided between the projecting part 40 and the projecting part 42 provided on a lock part 112 of the connection part 102.
  • the outer perimeter surface of the pipe 12 contacts with the spring piece 108, and urging force is accumulated in the spring piece 108.
  • the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12 contacts with the contact part 84, the elastic piece 80 is pushed to spread outward, the locking piece 92 is pushed to spread outward by way of the elastic piece 80, and the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 94 is unlocked.
  • the frame body 106 is pushed downward by way of the spring piece 108 by the urging force of the spring piece 108.
  • the locking part 94 of the locking piece 92 rides over the upper face of the projecting part 42, and contacts with the lower side face of the projecting part 42, and the lock member 104 becomes in the connected state. In this state, the urging force in the spring piece 108 is released.
  • the members are divided in accordance with their functions between the elastic piece 80 for unlocking the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 94 and the spring piece 108 for moving the lock member 104 to the connected position. Therefore, for example, there is no need to move the lock member 104 to the connected position because the elastic piece 80 returns and turns inward along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12.
  • the elastic piece 80 can be formed with a sufficient length to unlock the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 94. In other words, there is no need to set the position of the contact part 84 to a position crossing the axis of the inserted pipe 12. Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B , the length of the elastic piece 80 can be shortened, and the degree of freedom of design is expanded. Also, because the members are divided in accordance with the respective functions, the necessary urging force for the function can be set respectively, and the operability in connection of the pipe 12 can be further improved.
  • the tracks of the locking part 86 are the same between the track (forward path) of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 when the lock member 16 moves from the standby position illustrated in FIG. 14B to the connected position illustrated in FIG. 14C , and the track (return path) of the locking part 86 of the locking piece 78 when the lock member 16 moves from the connected state to the standby state.
  • a guide path 118 to become a separate track from the forward path is provided on the side opposite the installation part 38 on the lock part 36 of the connection part 18, and when the lock member moves from the connected state 10 of the connector illustrated in FIG. 23A to the standby state illustrated in FIG. 23C , a locking part 122 of a locking piece 120 is guided to the guide path 118 as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 23B .
  • the parallelepiped-form locking part 122 is provided on an inner face side of the locking piece 120. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 20 , a chamfered part 124 is formed on a face on a side of the projecting part 42 opposite the gap 44, and the locking part 122 is guided to the guide path 118 along the chamfered part 124.
  • the locking part 122 becomes capable of being inserted in the gap 44 when the locking part 122 passes the chamfered part 124, but as illustrated in FIG. 23B , at midcourse of the movement of the locking part 122 toward the depth of the gap 44, the locking part 122 interferes with a side face of the elastic piece 80, and the movement toward the depth of the gap 44 is restricted (provisional standby position to be described).
  • the elastic piece 80 when the lock member moves from the standby position of the lock member 16 illustrated in FIG. 22 to the connected position of the lock member 16 illustrated in FIG. 21 (forward path), the elastic piece 80 is pushed to spread outward and thereby pushes the locking piece 120 to spread outward by way of the locking part 122, and the locked state in the standby position of the locking part 122 is unlocked. Also, when the locked state of the locking part 122 is unlocked, the elastic piece 80 returns, turns inward along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12, and moves the lock member 16 to the connected position.
  • the lock member 16 when removing the pipe 12 from the connector 130, the lock member 16 is first moved from the connected position to the standby position in order to release the connected state between the lock member 16 and the pipe 12, and at this time, the elastic piece 80 is pushed to spread outward along the outer perimeter surface of the flange part 12A of the pipe 12. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 23C , when the locking part 122 is placed outside of the elastic piece 80, the elastic piece 80 contacts with the locking part 122, and the locking piece 120 is pushed to spread outward by way of the locking part 122. In other words, in the course of moving the lock member 16 from the connected position to the standby position, the lock member 16 cannot be held in the standby position, and the lock member 16 again returns to the connected position.
  • the guide path 118 is provided on the lock part 36, the guide path 118 is provided for guiding the locking part 122 in a direction that the pressing piece 90 is retracted from outside of the elastic piece 80 when the lock member 16 returns to the standby position from the connected position, and the lock member 16 is held in the provisional standby position.
  • the elastic piece 80 does not push the locking part 122 to spread outward even though the elastic piece 80 was pushed to spread outward, and therefore, the locking piece 120 is not pushed to spread outward.
  • the state in which the lock member 16 is held in the provisional standby position is maintained. Therefore, the lock member 16 can be prevented from returning again to the connected position from the standby position when the pipe 12 is removed from the connector 130. Accordingly, because the lock member 16 is held in the provisional standby state when first being raised, there is no need to maintain the state in which the lock member 16 is raised upward using a slotted screwdriver or a custom jig, and the connector is convenient.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
EP11747198.7A 2010-02-23 2011-02-10 Connector Active EP2541118B1 (en)

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JP (1) JP5518522B2 (ko)
KR (1) KR101421857B1 (ko)
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2011105234A1 (ja) 2011-09-01
JP2011174508A (ja) 2011-09-08
CN102770702B (zh) 2015-08-05
JP5518522B2 (ja) 2014-06-11
KR101421857B1 (ko) 2014-07-22
EP2541118A1 (en) 2013-01-02
US9212773B2 (en) 2015-12-15
EP2541118A4 (en) 2017-07-05
CN102770702A (zh) 2012-11-07
KR20120109653A (ko) 2012-10-08
US20120326435A1 (en) 2012-12-27

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